Splish Splash

This summer Crae has discovered her LOVE for the pool!

We spend AT LEAST four days a week, two hours a day in the water.

She was pretty skeptical at first, but she is now a dare devil.

We started this summer with me just holding her in the pool.

After the first couple of days, she wanted nothing to do with me.

She would walk around on the stairs by herself and TRY to wriggle out of my grasp when I held her.

I even got her to jump off the side into my arms. Then one day, she jumped when I wasn't looking!! Luckily, I was close by and all was well. That was when I decided it was time for floaties! She couldn't be more happy or feel so FREE! She recently learned how to kick her feet and maneuver around the pool all by herself. Maybe she should have been born a fish :) i LOVE that she LOVES the water.

Independence Day

saturday jace was able to come home early for a change! we had a wonderful BBQ with great friends that i have come to LOVE already! we had a GREAT spread of AWESOME food thanks to janelle and dallas :) and OF COURSE i ate until i was sick! unforunatley, with this pregnancy brain of mine, i forgot my camera! a BIG thanks to Dall for capturing this sweet picture of my fam!

the fourth also marks FOURTEEN months for this babe :)

oh how i LOVE this baby girl.

every night i find myself excitingly spouting off to jace about all the sweet (and not so sweet) things she did that day... and as I relay the events of that day, i find myself falling more and more in LOVE!

she has two new teeth with several more on their way

new words she can sign and say: bug, ball, shoes, book, rock, yogurt, poop

she ALWAYS gets her way

she loves to scream we no longer make it thru an entire sacrament meeting

she loves to give eskimoe kisses

she loves PB&J, cold cereal, yogurt and mac n' cheese

she cries everyday when jace leaves for work.

she LOVES books. she always wants to be read to

after she poops she plugs her nose :)

she knows where most of her body parts are

this girl is super smart and is sadly growing up WAY too fast!

good thing we have another one on the way!

my baby just isnt a baby anymore...

Summer Madness!

so this is a post about our journey in missouri thus far...

this pregnancy has been MUCH better than the last, so I can't complain TOO much! BUT i have been feeling pretty puny. THIS time i have been taking a prescription to help with the nausea and it has been such a blessing! i have only puked ten or so times. LAST pregnancy, I couldn't take one sip of water without throwing up. i am so grateful considering I have a one year old to keep up with this time around.

the first week in missouri was awful. jace would wake up with mcrae and let me sleep in. i would get up when he was getting ready to leave around noon. i stayed on the couch all day and slept when mcrae did. i felt like an awful mom, having no patience and being glued to the couch! By the time Jace got home around nine or ten, I was usually already asleep and Jace was left to make his own dinner. I felt like a LOSER! Jace assured me that he didn't mind and wished he was home more often to help out!! (he is amazing!)

Anyway, I decided I couldn't live like that MUCH longer so Mom suggested McRae and I come to GA until I was feeling better. On Mother's Day, Jace drove me 5 hours to Kentucky where he met Pop and that was only HALF WAY. I was so grateful to these two men for sacrificing their ENTIRE Sunday for ME!

McRae and I ended up spending FOUR WHOLE WEEKS in Georgia with my family. My family was so great! They all helped me so much with McRae and delt with me being so whiney! I got a nap whenever I needed and a meal or snack fixed for me about every two hours! I cannot thank my Mom enough for fitting us into her busy schedule. After about four weeks, I was feeling PRETTY good, and I missed Jace SO much, so once again, Pop and Jace made the ten hour drive to take us back to Missouri. McRae was so happy to see her Papa :)

Once in MO, Jace's company decided they were going to move their office to Idaho Falls, ID in one week! WHAT...?! We had JUST came from out there! I was so upset. I had been living out of a suticase for 6 weeks now and just wanted to stay in one place. I told Jace that there was no way I was driving clear to Idaho with a one year old, that McRae and I were going back to GA and he could go if he wanted. Jace decided he didn't want to leave his family again, so he would come to GA with us and work for Pop sooner than we has planned. Later that week, Jace's boss called to see if we would be willing to move to Springfield, IL where their second office is located. I guess they didn't want to see there 3rd best seller in the office get away :) Jace and I decided that we had planned to be out selling this summer anyway, and that Illinois was only a three hour drive so here we are.

Springfield, Illinois.

This better be our LAST move until we go back to Georgia in the fall.

Two Weddings and A Baby!

As most of you know, my brother Tommy is marrying this pretty girl August 6, 2010 in the Columbia, South Carolina Temple. :)

And for more RECENT news, this little girl is ENGAGED!

Kelsey and Zach will be married September 4, 2010 in the Boise, Idaho Temple!

Kels will have JUST turned 19 when they get married, which is EXACTLY when Jace and I were married. I now realize that I was SUPER young! However, I wouldn't change a THING! We are so happy for these two little love birds :)

And last but not least, we are expecting BABY NUMBER TWO :) I am due Decmeber 15, 2010. We... well I, have wanted another baby since McRae was born! So we are super excited to welcome another sweet spirit into our home! These BIG events taking place in the McRae family will make for a BUSY, but EXCITING year :)

Road Trip!

So first of all I just wanted to give a BIG thanks to ALL who helped us

clean.pack.watch crae.load truck.

we had so many awesome helpers that made EVERYTHING much easier!!

i am sad to say that i got NO pictures of us cleaning, or loading the truck, or of our apartment.

i just wasn't on top of it.

WARNING:LONG POST.

From the night before we left Orem, until we made it to Missouri!

The night before we took off we had dinner with some of our BESTIES!

i LOVE this pic of these THREE

landon says he is going to miss crae the most! Day One: Mom drove my car with McRae and I in the back. We followed Jace in the Budget truck that was hauling his pickup. We traveled from Orem, UT to Albuequerque, NM. We should have driven FURTHER because we arrived in NM around six p.m. and day two ended up being a LONG one!! However, we were ALL ready to get out! We decided to make the trip a little easier for McRae by putting her in her forward facing carseat for the FIRST time!! SHE LOVED IT to say the least! As soon as we took off driving, she was dancing and giggling. It was GREAT! This is what she looked like MOST of the trip: This is her the other part of the trip :) Day Two: We drove from Albuequerque, NM to New Boston, TX. After waking up, packing, loading the car and of course continental breakfast, we didn't get on the road until about 8. We arrived in New Boston shortly after MIDNIGHT! It was a long and boring drive across Texas. Day Three: We stayed all day in New Boston visiting family. It was so nice to be able to relax and show off McRae to the grandparents :) Me and Grandmother (my Dad's mom) Grandmother, Harrison, and Crae (Harrison is my cousin's son) Crae and Papaw Tommy (my Mom's Dad) love this pic :) I also got to meet my new cousin RIDGE :) (Ridge belongs to my Mom's stepbrother) We also visited with my Mammaw Peg and Papa Skip (mom's mom and step dad) but I didn't get any pictures! Oh how I love ALL of my awesome Grandparents and family in Texas! I was sad to leave not knowing when we would be back! Day Four: New Boston, TX to Lawrenceville, GA! This drive was only a mere TWELVE hours and we all were so GRATEFUL! All in all the trip couldn't have gone any better. McRae did GREAT! The car and truck ran smoothly, no one wrecked or even got ticket! We spent the next five days in Georgia relaxing before we headed to Missouri. We unloaded and returned the budget truck, watched nana play tennis and ALMOST made a trip to the E.R.! McRae and Nana in their tennis gear after a match! This iron decoration USE to be hanging over the guest bed. One morning McRae woke up but Jace and I weren't QUITE ready so I pulled her into bed with us. Well, apparently she was tired of laying down and wanted to play. She stood up and grabbed a hold of this thing. I quickly grabbed her hand and tried to get her to let go. I guess I pulled on her as she was pulling on it... and well. It came CRASHING down. LUCKILY, NOT on her, but on me. When it first hit me, I grabbed my head in pain and started crying. At this point, Jace was still asleep. Well not for long. He says at first he thought I was FAKING it! As soon as I pulled my hand off my head and saw ALL the blood, he JUMPED up and ran McRae to my mom, and then came back for me. We went to the bathroom as blood was dripping EVERYWHERE. He got me a wet rag and told me hold it on there. He then proceeded to tell me he needed to sit down because he was feeling lightheaded from all the blood. WHAT?! Seriously, HE was feeling lightheaded!? Well the smell of the blood starting getting to me. I started to walk out of the bathroom saying I needed to lie down and the next thing I know Jace looking down at me saying my name. I had totally passed out! To make a long story a little shorter, we called my uncle Steve (Pop's brother) who is a PA in the army. He said that I should be fine and if it were his head he wouldn't get stitches. I was a little nervous about having a HUGE scar and whole in my hair but decided NOT to go to the hospital. We actually ended up braiding the hair around the wound SHUT (Thanks MEL!) and it healed beautifully! The next day we made the 10 hour drive to Columbia, Missouri! It is so beautiful and GREEN here! Our apartments turned out being VERY nice and we are only about 10 miles from the University of Missouri (Mizzou). There are two pools, two gyms and free tanning! I was pretty impressed with all of the facilities. Okay, so sorry for the LONG post! More to come SOON! :)

O-N-E!

I cannot believe that my baby is ONE!

Time really FLIES by! It feels like just yesterday I was giving birth!

Let me just say that this past year has been the BEST so far!

This little girl is such an angel and brings so much joy and peace into our home!

I am so grateful to be a mommy and that she chose me!

McRae decided to have her birthday right in the middle of us packing to move across the country. So we threw a quick LITTLE party with some close friends at the park!

McRae and her "cake" (fruit pizza)

opening presents

FRIENDS :) Accomplishments Thus Far:

words she says and knows:

mama

papa

nana

cocoa

uh oh

she can sign:

milk

please

more

eat she blows kisses

Cocoa is my parents dog. McRae says Cocoa whenever she sees ANY dog. It is SO CUTE! She also signs "eat" every morning when she wakes up. She knows it will get her a warm bowl of oatmeal :) Sometimes she chooses not to sign but you can get a "please" or a "more" out of her with an oreo or popsicle FOR SURE!

To date, this one year old has NO TEETH! NOT ONE!! We are still patiently waiting for her to cut her first tooth.

Oh, we just LOVE her!

Our Life Lately

This is just kinda one big catch up post. A LOT has been going on lately and I haven't had a whole lot of time to just sit at the computer. The past few weeks have consisted of friends, family, birthdays, receptions and PACKING! We leave NEXT Sunday! I cannot believe it. If I think about it for too long I want to CRY! My sweet mom is flying back out next Friday to help us clean and then make the 2000 + mile drive. The next ten days are packed with last mintue visits with friends, a small, early birthday party for crae (SHE IS ALMOST ONE!! ), packing, and cleaning. Did I mention we are both giving talks this Sunday...?! Harmony in Home, Through Jesus Christ. I'm FREAKING OUT to say the least. I knew we shoudln't have told anyone we we're moving.... Well my next post, I'm sure, will be once we get settled in Missouri the first weekend in May. Until then, here are some recent pics.

walking EVERYWHERE! PIGTAILS :) Easter dress

our fam.

outback for Marci's 24th birthday!

Jace and President Smith

Mission Reunion

Us and the Mannings

My Family :)

Church Office Building

the fam.

jazz game!

me and ty ty

Bennett's Reception

The Mechams are Moving.

As most of you know, Jace graduated in December with quite possibly the WORST degree to have in this economy. CONSTRUCTION management. He applies for SEVERAL jobs daily, but has heard NOTHING! Residential construction is almost at a standstill! The job Jace has now with Southam and Hreinson is a construction job, but he is being paid hourly with NO benefits. He was told he would be getting a raise after he graduated, but 3 months later... nothing. He knows that there isn't much of a future with this small residential construction company.

Jace's current boss also owns a company called Clear Satellite. They have several guys go out and sale dish network and direct tv door to door during the summer. His boss has been encouraging Jace to go for some time now. We had always said that when summer came, IF we still hadn't heard from any other jobs, then we would move. Just for the summer, just for a few months. So, we are moving!

Where you ask? COLUMBIA, MISSOURI!

April 20, 2010

Well, I got to thinking about this whole moving ordeal. We were going to move half way across the country and then all the way back after a few short months, just to return to a job with no future? That doesn't make much since when we have ANOTHER option :)

GEORGIA! Pop and Mom have been BEGGING us to move home for some time now. Pop has said that Jace can work with him doing insurance adjusting until he finds something else. Not to mention the housing market is RIDICULOUSLY cheap compared to Utah. We would be able to have our own house in no time! This makes me smile :) So I proposed to Jace that if we are moving half way across the country (to Missouri), then we should go ALL the way (to Georgia)! So in the fall, after summer sales, off to GEORGIA we will go! Despite what MOST of you may think, I really would rather NOT move! If Jace was offered a great job in Utah we would STAY!!! I love Utah: the weather, our friends, our family, our ward, the mountains. It has been a long and hard decision, but we feel a move to a place with more oppurtunity is the right choice.

Walking :)

She's All Country

We're back from our LONG but GREAT trip to GEORGIA :)

We had such an AWESOME time back at home! It was wonderful to be able to spend so much time with my sweet family. Although the trip consisted with McRae and I both having a fever for a few days, followed by mom getting pretty sick, and concluded with Pop having hernia surgery... It ended up being a surprisingly FUN vacation.

crae and i on the plane

The biggest news from the trip... TOMMY IS ENGAGED! He proposed the night that we flew in! This is him and MEGAN shortly after the proposal! We just LOVE her and are SO excited for them! August 6th is the date! Our little fam on Valentine's Day! Nana LOVES her baby! my most FAVORTIE pic of the whole trip! brittanie, brittany and mckayla! one night i got to help backstage with the miss mountain view pageant! it was so much fun! i LOVE these girls! (they are all three in my home ward) uncle tom and crae! jace was only in GA with us for four days! he had to be back for work! so he spent about a week and a half here in orem ALONE! when mcrae and i got back into town i was surprised with a SPOTLESS car, house, and these LOVELY flowers and a card. i THINK he missed us ;) we certainly missed him! we are so lucky to have him in our lives!

McRae and I also got to spend a LOT of time with some GREAT friends! I took way too many pictures to post them all! but a big thanks to suz.taytay.brooke.alyssa.trice.and shan! We love you all! We can't wait to come back to the SOUTH!